Gibson entered his plea just before the case was set go to trial, Sanders said.

According to police, a fight broke out in the parking lot behind Pachinko's Bar just as the local bars were set to close. Gibson pulled out a knife and stabbed three people. Howard was wounded in the heart and died, while victims Nathan West and Torrey Montgomery sustained minor injuries.

A woman told police that Gibson had just given her his phone number, which led to Gibson's arrest.

Gibson was sentenced on Monday though he had made several attempts to withdraw his guilty plea. The court determined that Gibson failed to establish a legal basis for the requested withdrawal.

Howard's mother and stepfather addressed the court about their loss.

Kenton Circuit Judge Gregory Bartlett followed the recommendation of prosecutors to sentence Gibson to ten years for the manslaughter conviction and five years each for the second degree assault charges, all to run consecutively.